1. An appellate court reviews a departure sentence to determine whether the sentencing
court's findings of fact and reasons justifying a departure (1) are supported by substantial
evidence in the record and (2) constitute substantial and compelling reasons for departure.
Whether a factor constitutes a substantial and compelling reason for departure is a
question of law over which an appellate court's review is unlimited.

2. To be substantial the reason for departure must be real, not imagined, and of substance,
not ephemeral. To be compelling the reason must be one which forces the court, by the
facts of the case, to abandon the status quo and to venture beyond the sentence that it
would ordinarily impose.

3. K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4716(c) contains a nonexclusive list of substantial and compelling
departure factors. Extra-statutory departure factors are subject to stricter scrutiny than
those enumerated in the statute.

4. The sentencing court must state on the record the substantial and compelling reasons for
the departure, and the court's comments govern as to the reasons for departure.

5. Although nonamenability to probation is not explicitly listed in K.S.A. 2006 Supp.
21-4716(c) as a substantial and compelling reason to depart, our courts have repeatedly
recognized that it is.

6. 8 U.S.C. § 1325 (2000) declares an alien's unsanctioned entry into the United
States to be
a crime. While Congress has criminalized illegal entry into this country, it has not made
the continued presence of an illegal alien in the United States a crime unless the
illegal
alien has previously been deported and has again entered this country illegally. 8 U.S.C. §
1326 (2000) makes it a felony for an alien who has been deported to thereafter reenter the
United States or at anytime thereafter be found in the United States.

7. Those persons who enter this country illegally are subject to deportation. 8 U.S.C.
§ 1227
(2000). Deportation may be based upon any number of factors, including the alien's initial
entry into this country contrary to law or acts while in this country, such as the
commission of certain crimes. However, while an illegal alien is subject to deportation,
that person's ongoing presence in the United States in and of itself is not a crime unless
that person had been previously deported and regained illegal entry into this country.

8. If a criminal defendant has not previously been deported, then the mere fact of the
defendant's illegal alien status does not in itself render the defendant unamenable to
probation.

9. Fulfillment of statutorily mandated probation terms is inconsistent with a defendant
continuing to reside in this country as an illegal alien throughout the term of probation if
the defendant had previously been deported and has since reentered this country illegally.

10. There can be no more substantial and compelling reason for a court's actions than
the
preservation of the rule of law. Thus, if a defendant's continued presence in the United
States is in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (previously deported), that fact alone may
constitute a substantial and compelling reason to deny presumptive probation.

11. The district court does not engage in enforcing our national immigration laws by
simply
recognizing a defendant's immigration status for the purpose of deciding whether the
defendant is amenable to probation.

12. In applying the Equal Protection Clause to most forms of state action, courts seek
only the
assurance that the classification at issue bears some fair relationship to a legitimate public
purpose.

13. If a defendant is present in the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326
(previously
deported), the district court may consider this fact in determining whether the defendant
could successfully complete a plan of probation.

14. K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4718(a)(3) requires that the sentencing court's notice of its
intent to
depart must be reasonable; i.e., notice must be provided at such a time and with such
specificity that the defendant and the State have a fair opportunity to marshal and present
their arguments for or against the proposed departure before sentence is pronounced.

McANANY, J.: Nicholas L. Martinez appeals the district court's imposition of an upward
dispositional departure sentence following his guilty plea to possession of cocaine and
endangering a child. He raises two main issues: (1) whether the fact that he is an illegal alien
justifies the denial of presumptive probation and (2) whether the district judge gave him fair
notice of her intention to impose a departure sentence. We conclude that under the present
statutory scheme for probationers, the fact that Martinez is an illegal alien may, under certain
limited circumstances, constitute a substantial and compelling reason for the district court to
depart. Nevertheless, the district judge failed to determine whether those limited circumstances
existed and also failed to provide adequate warning of her intent to depart. Therefore, we must
vacate Martinez' sentence and remand the case for resentencing.

Martinez also raises an issue with regard to the assessment of the Board of Indigents'
Defense Services (BIDS) attorney fees. We conclude that we must set aside the order for attorney
fees and remand for reconsideration of the assessment consistent with State v.
Robinson, 281
Kan. 538, 132 P.3d 934 (2006), and K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 22-4513.

The facts are not in dispute. Detective Terry L. Millard arranged for a controlled buy of
illegal drugs from Martinez. The first transaction was concluded with the transfer of powered
cocaine from Martinez' young son. The second transaction was consummated by Martinez
delivering the drugs. Martinez was arrested and, pursuant to a search warrant, his house was
searched. Police found additional cocaine, along with two stolen social security cards. They also
found a United States Immigration and Naturalization Service Resident Alien card issued to one
of the victims of the social security card thefts. The resident alien card bore the photograph of
Martinez' wife.

Martinez was charged with the sale of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to
distribute, endangering a child, theft, and unlawful possession of an identification card. Pursuant
to a plea agreement, Martinez entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of possession of
cocaine and endangering a child. In return, the State dismissed the remaining charges and
recommended that the court impose the presumptive sentence of probation. It was apparent from
the comments of his counsel at the plea hearing that Martinez was an illegal alien. In
commenting about Martinez' eligibility for drug treatment, his counsel stated:

"I believe Mr. Martinez, because of his citizenship and status, may or may not be eligible
under
Senate Bill 123 for the mandatory treatment. He may or may not be here. I think -- and I have
explained to Mr. Martinez that he risks the fate of his brother that I represented on similar
charges
who was deported, and Mr. Martinez -- if the INS continues, both Mr. McPherson and I expect
that that's what's going to happen. We certainly have not guaranteed Mr. Martinez that's not
going
to happen."

The court accepted Martinez' plea and set the matter for sentencing.

At the sentencing hearing, before imposing a sentence, the district court stated:

"THE COURT: Okay. Well, the first question that arises here is that whether--Mr.
Martinez is not legally in this country if I remember right--correctly; is that right?

"THE INTERPRETER: That's correct, Your Honor.

"THE COURT: Okay, . . . the problem that arises for me is to follow the
guidelines here
is because Mr. Martinez is illegally in the country and is in violation of the probation rules right
from the start if I were to place him on probation. . . . [H]e . . . has to comply with all the
conditions of the probation and he can't do that because he's in violation of the law not to violate
any federal or state laws. And so for that reason, I am going to have a big problem following
these
guidelines, but is there any legal reason why I should not impose sentence at this time?"

When neither party responded in the affirmative, the court imposed an upward
dispositional departure sentence by denying presumptive probation and sentencing Martinez to
11 months' imprisonment on the cocaine conviction and a concurrent sentence of 1 year in the
county jail on the endangering a child conviction. The court also ordered Martinez to reimburse
BIDS for his attorney fees.

Martinez appeals.

The Departure Sentence

Martinez argues that his status as an illegal alien was not a substantial and compelling
reason to deny him presumptive probation. He claims that the court's reliance on his status as an
illegal alien resulted in him being sentenced for immigration violations, an unintended use of the
guidelines as well as a violation of his due process and equal protection rights.

We review a departure sentence to determine whether the sentencing court's findings of
fact and reasons justifying a departure (1) are supported by substantial evidence in the record and
(2) constitute substantial and compelling reasons for departure. State v. Neri, 32
Kan. App. 2d
1131, 1132, 95 P.3d 121, rev. denied 278 Kan. 850 (2004). Whether a factor
constitutes a
substantial and compelling reason for departure is a question of law over which appellate review
is unlimited. State v. Martin, 279 Kan. 623, 625-26, 112 P.3d 192 (2005). To be
substantial the
reason must be real, not imagined, and of substance, not ephemeral. To be compelling the reason
must be one which forces the court, by the facts of the case, to abandon the status quo and to
venture beyond the sentence that it would ordinarily impose. See State v. McKay,
271 Kan. 725,
728, 26 P.3d 58 (2001).

K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4716(c) contains a nonexclusive list of substantial and compelling
departure factors. Extra-statutory departure factors are subject to stricter scrutiny than those
enumerated in the statute. State v. Murphy, 270 Kan. 804, 807, 19 P.3d 80 (2001).
The
sentencing court must state on the record the substantial and compelling reasons for the
departure, and the court's comments govern as to the reasons for departure. K.S.A. 2006 Supp.
21-4716(a); Murphy, 270 Kan. at 806.

There is no question that Martinez' status as an illegal alien was the fact which prompted
the court to depart and to not grant him probation. The argument Martinez raises has been
considered by the appellate court in Oregon in State v. Zavala-Ramos, 116 Or. App.
220, 223,
840 P.2d 1314 (1992), and in State v. Morales-Aguilar, 121 Or. App. 456, 458-59,
855 P.2d 646
(1993), but not in Kansas.

In Zavala-Ramos, the court concluded that immigration status is not per
se relevant, but
the sentencing court may consider a pattern of the defendant's conduct which demonstrates the
defendant's unwillingness to conform his conduct to legal requirements. 116 Or. App. at 223.

Applying Zavala-Ramos, the court in Morales-Aguilar found that
the sentencing court did
not depart because the defendant was an illegal alien, but because of the defendant's absolute
disregard of law and his pending deportation. 121 Or. App. at 458-59.

In determining whether Martinez' departure sentence was justified, we must decide
whether there is an incongruity between Martinez serving his probation in Kansas and his
ongoing presence in this country as an illegal alien. The district court believed that there was.

It is apparent from an examination of K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4716 and the Kansas cases
that they do not directly address this issue. K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4716(c)(2) provides a
nonexclusive list of aggravating factors that may be considered in determining
whether there are
substantial and compelling reasons to depart. This list includes the vulnerability of the victim, the
brutality of the act, the motivation of the defendant, the relationship between defendant and
victim, whether the defendant is a sexual predator, and whether the defendant was incarcerated at
the time the crime was committed. Although nonamenability to probation is not explicitly listed
as a substantial and compelling reason to depart, our courts have repeatedly recognized that it is.
See State v. Grady, 258 Kan. 72, 89, 900 P.2d 227 (1995), and the various other
decisions cited
therein. We then must ask: Does the fact that a defendant is an illegal alien automatically render
that defendant unamenable to probation?

8 U.S.C. § 1325(a) (2000) declares an alien's unsanctioned entry into the United
States to
be a crime. The statute provides:

"Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or
place other
than as designated by immigration officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by
immigration officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully
false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first
commission of any such offense, be fined under Title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months,
or
both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under Title 18, or
imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both."

While in this country one whose presence is unlawful remains subject to the full range of
obligations imposed by our laws. However, while Congress has criminalized the illegal entry into
this country, it has not made the continued presence of an illegal alien in the United States a
crime unless the illegal alien has previously been deported and has again entered this
country
illegally. 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (2000) makes it a felony for an alien who has been deported to
thereafter reenter the United States or at anytime thereafter be found in the United States.

Those persons who enter this country illegally are subject to deportation. 8 U.S.C.
§ 1227
(2000). Martinez' counsel acknowledged this possibility at the plea hearing. Deportation may be
based upon any number of factors, including the alien's initial entry into this country contrary to
law or acts while in this country, such as the commission of certain crimes. However, while an
illegal alien is subject to deportation, that person's ongoing presence in the United States in and
of itself is not a crime unless that person had been previously deported and regained illegal entry
into this country. See United States v. Rincon-Jimenez, 595 F.2d 1192, 1193-94 (9th
Cir. 1979).
As noted by the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Cores, 356 U.S.
405, 408 n.6, 2
L. Ed. 2d 873, 78 S. Ct. 875 (1958), when it commented on 8 U.S.C. § 1325 and similar
statutes:
"Those offenses are not continuing ones, as 'entry' is limited to a particular locality and hardly
suggests continuity."

The district court viewed Martinez' continued presence in the United States during a term
of probation to be incompatible with his status as an illegal alien. The court observed: "Mr.
Martinez is illegally in the country and is in violation of the probation rules right from the start if
I were to place him on probation." This is true if Martinez had previously been deported and
thereafter reentered the country illegally. 8 U.S.C. § 1326 would make his mere ongoing
presence
here a felony. On the other hand, if Martinez entered the country in violation of 8 U.S.C. §
1325
but has not previously been deported, his ongoing presence is not a crime though he is subject to
deportation. Since the district court made no finding that 8 U.S.C. § 1326 applies to
Martinez, we
must set aside the departure sentence and remand for resentencing. If Martinez has not previously
been deported, then the mere fact of his illegal alien status does not in itself render him
unamenable to probation.

On the other hand, had Martinez previously been deported and reentered the country
illegally, the district court's observations would be correct: Each day he served on probation
would be a day on which he violated 8 U.S.C. § 1326. The presentence investigation report
for
Martinez recommended that if he were placed on probation, he should serve his probation under
the supervision of a court services officer. By law his probation would have been conditioned
upon him not violating the laws of the United States, the State of Kansas, or any other
jurisdiction to which he may be subject. See K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4610(a). Further, a defendant
on probation typically is required to meet with the assigned court services officer on some
periodic basis. Such an arrangement would have required Martinez' continued presence in the
area throughout the term of his probation. Interestingly, one of the recommended probation
conditions was a travel restriction, i.e., Martinez would have been required to remain
within a
100-mile radius of his residence in Kansas unless he had the permission of his court services
officer. Further, he would have been prohibited from leaving Kansas without the written
permission of his court services officer. Thus, it is readily apparent that fulfillment of the
statutorily mandated and additional recommended probation terms would have been inconsistent
with Martinez continuing to reside in this country as an illegal alien throughout the term of his
probation if he had previously been deported and had since reentered this country illegally.

Court service officers are appointed by the chief judge of the judicial district as necessary
to perform certain judicial and administrative functions of the district court. K.S.A. 2006 Supp.
20-345. They are officers of the court. They perform a multitude of important tasks for the court,
including the supervision of defendants placed on probation. See K.S.A. 20-346a(b). They have
the authority to arrest a probationer for violating the terms of probation and to initiate
proceedings which ultimately can lead to the revocation of probation. See K.S.A. 2006 Supp.
22-3716(a). A grant of probation to one whose ongoing presence in this country violates 8 U.S.C.
§
1326 would require the supervising court services officer to "look the other way" and ignore the
defendant's ongoing daily violations of law.

"Nothing can destroy a government more quickly than its failure to observe its own laws,
or
worse, its disregard of the charter of its own existence. As Mr. Justice Brandeis, dissenting, said
in Olmstead v. United States, 277 U.S. 438, 485[, 72 L. Ed. 944, 48 S. Ct. 564]
(1928): 'Our
government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people
by its example. . . . If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it
invites
every man to become a law into himself; it invites anarchy.'"

We conclude that there can be no more substantial and compelling reason for a court's
actions
than the preservation of the rule of law. Thus, if a defendant's continued presence in the United
States is in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (previously deported), that fact alone may
constitute a
substantial and compelling reason to deny presumptive probation.

Martinez argues that state courts are not the proper forum to adjudicate his immigration
status. It is true that the courts of this state enjoy no status with respect to the classification of
aliens. See Hines v. Davidowitz, 312 U.S. 52, 85 L. Ed. 581, 61 S. Ct. 399 (1941).
This power
resides in the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Mathews v.
Diaz, 426
U.S. 67, 81, 48 L. Ed. 2d 478, 96 S. Ct. 1883 (1976). However, there was no adjudication of
Martinez' immigration status by the sentencing court. Martinez' counsel, sua sponte,
referred to
Martinez' status at the plea hearing. At the sentencing hearing the district court asked, "Mr.
Martinez is not legally in this country if I remember right -- correctly; is that right?" Martinez,
through the interpreter, responded, "That's correct, Your Honor." The district court did not
engage in an adjudication of Martinez' immigration status. It simply recognized a fact about
Martinez which his counsel volunteered during the course of the proceedings. On remand the
district court is permitted to consider whether Martinez has been deported in the past in
determining his amenability to probation.

Martinez correctly points out that it is not the function of the state courts to enforce our
national immigration laws. The district court was not enforcing our national immigration laws by
simply recognizing Martinez' immigration status for the purpose of deciding whether he is
amenable to probation. The fact that our national leaders, for political, policy, or budgetary
reasons, have chosen to ignore violations of our immigration laws does not prevent our courts
from considering whether a defendant is engaging in an ongoing violation of law in determining
that defendant's amenability to probation. The sentencing court should not be compelled to
impose a plan of probation which, by its very nature, cannot be successfully completed.

Martinez also argues that the sentencing court's departure sentence denied his
constitutional rights to due process and the equal protection of the laws. Martinez does not
explain how the sentencing court denied his right to due process. An issue asserted in passing
without supporting argument or authority is deemed waived. State v. Holmes, 278
Kan. 603, 622,
102 P.3d 406 (2004).

With respect to Martinez' equal protection claim, there is no doubt that the Fourteenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution extends its protections to all persons within the
boundaries of this state. Its protections are not limited to citizens of this country. Nevertheless,
the Equal Protection Clause does not prohibit all classifications, only invidious classifications.
As noted by the court in Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202, 216, 72 L. Ed. 2d 786, 102 S.
Ct. 2382
(1982), the case relied upon by Martinez:

The court also noted: "In applying the Equal Protection Clause to most forms of state action,
we
thus seek only the assurance that the classification at issue bears some fair relationship to a
legitimate public purpose." Plyler, 457 U.S. at 216.

Martinez was not singled out by the sentencing court because of his race or nationality. It
is possible for a resident alien lawfully in this country to successfully complete a plan of
probation. So could an illegal alien who is not in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. On the
other hand,
an illegal alien whose presence violates 8 U.S.C. § 1326 could not. The issue left
unresolved is
which category applies to Martinez.

Finally, we are not persuaded by Martinez' argument that the district court's decision to
grant an appeal bond is irreconcilable with its decision to deny probation. The appropriateness of
an appeal bond is not determinative of whether a substantial and compelling reason supports his
departure sentence.

We do not presume to breach the line between interpreting and applying the law on one
hand and establishing public policy on the other. We leave the latter task to our legislative
branch. But our legislature, in enacting K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4610(a), has mandated a provision
in every probation plan that the defendant, during the term of probation, not violate the laws the
United States. So long as this remains the law of our state, we must refrain from any activity that
undermines its clear and unequivocal intent. Further, the sentencing court must be permitted to
recognize an inherent conflict which may impede a defendant's successful compliance with a
plan of probation which requires the defendant's continued presence in the jurisdiction and the
defendant's compliance with the laws of the United States throughout the term of probation.
Thus, if Martinez is present in the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326
(previously
deported), the district court may consider this fact in determining whether he could successfully
complete a plan of probation.

Notice of Intent to Depart

Martinez also claims he was not given notice or an opportunity to respond to the district
court's intent to impose a departure sentence. In resolving this issue we must look to the
requirements of K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4718(a)(3). Whether these requirements were met is an
issue of law over which appellate courts exercise unlimited review. State v. Bryan,
281 Kan. 157,
159, 130 P.3d 85 (2006).

While Martinez did not raise this issue before the district court, the issue arises from
undisputed facts and is limited to a question of law. Hence, we will address it. See State v.
Schroeder, 279 Kan. 104, 116, 105 P.3d 1237 (2005).

K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4718(a)(3) states:

"If the court decides to depart on its own volition, without a motion from the state
or the
defendant, the court must notify all parties of its intent and allow reasonable time for either party
to respond if requested. The notice shall state the type of departure intended by the court and the
reasons and factors relief upon."

Here, the parties did not become aware of the sentencing court's intent to depart until the
sentencing hearing. The sentencing court's notice of its intention to depart must be reasonable.
"At a minimum, this means it must be provided at such a time and with such specificity that the
defendant and the State have a fair opportunity to marshal and present their arguments for or
against the proposed departure before sentence is pronounced." State v. Carr, 29
Kan. App. 2d
501, 503, 28 P.3d 436 (2001), aff'd 274 Kan. 442, 53 P.3d 843 (2002).

It is clear that the sentencing judge's notice of her intent to depart was inadequate. There
was no advance notice prior to the actual sentencing hearing. When the sentencing judge gave
notice of her intent to depart, Martinez was not provided an adequate opportunity to marshal and
present his arguments against departure before sentence was pronounced. Consequently, the
notice requirement of K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 21-4718(a)(3) was not satisfied, and we are required to
vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing.

BIDS Fees

Finally, Martinez challenges the district court's order that he reimburse BIDS for attorney
fees because the court failed to explicitly consider on the record his ability to pay the fees. The
State concedes that State v. Robinson, 281 Kan. 538, 132 P.3d 934 (2006), controls.
Accordingly,
we vacate the order for fees and remand for the sentencing court to comply with K.S.A. 2006
Supp. 22-4513 and the requirements of Robinson. However, with regard to the
imposition of the
BIDS application fee pursuant to K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 22-4529, we adopt the reasoning announced
in State v. Hawkins, 37 Kan. App. 2d 195, 152 P.3d 85 (2007), rev. granted
June 25, 2007
(review pending). The district court did not err in its assessment of the application fee.

Affirmed in part, sentence and order for attorney fees vacated, and remanded with
directions for resentencing and reconsideration of the assessment of attorney fees consistent with
Robinson.